My son is six, loves to draw and is really talented. He's in Kindergarten and unfortunately will never get enough art ed in school. I'm wondering if anyone knows of materials or a program for cultivating his talent at home. I have artistic talent myself but don't find the time to paint anymore. Someday:)
I feel I could enrich him myself if I had some suggestions to go by. I don't want to just go out and buy a book like "How to draw animals". Although maybe this is okay. What do you think?
I think if I had had some more formal instruction as a child I could have gone farther with my natural ability — I was really good at copying, I'd like him to be more original than I was if this is going to be one of his hobbys/interests.
I'm also interested for my 4-1/2 year old (and the others as they grow). We've done plenty of pre-school type crafts.
My step-daughter took lessons at Mission Renaissance and is now a wonderful artist. They are a chain and they really know what they are doing. Check your phone book, I hope there is one near you.
M.
I am going through the same thing. Although I am not artistic by any means! My 6 yr. old wants to take an art class and all the one's out here are expensive. You're right I don't think they get enough of it in school. I am actually considering homeschooling next year because of the lack of education. I am working hard to earn an extra income, I , too am a stay at home mom. I would like to enroll my daughter in an art class, the one I have been looking at is $100.00 a month for 1 1/2 hours a week. I don't have much info. to give you, sorry. I know the homeschool program I am considering teaches the children about famous artists and they are able to be creative through their lessons.
you can try a big roll of butcher paper and roll it across a kid size table or put it outside for paint. do you have a kid play easel? take him to the art store and see what sparks. Michaels has classes, maybe take a few and see what he likes. i think art is so great for kids to express themselves. I loved writing stories with my nephews at that age and letting them draw the pictures. I would get on the computer and type, Once upon a time and let them fill in the blanks. Then they would draw pics for the story. They loved it!
I know you mentioned "at home," but most city's Parks & Rec Departments offer classes and usually they have some sort of art classes. My daughter took some. Also, if you find a local art studio near you, they sometimes offer introductory classes which can give you an idea of what you might do at the same time they take a class.
Go to Michaels craft stores and I think you'll come up with lots of ideas. Even if it's a paint by number appropriate for their ages, it can be a fun and creative activity. At Christmas each year, we used to buy those plaster ornaments and houses and paint them together as a family. My daughter loves those fuzzy coloring posters because they turn out great no matter what she does (I know that's not "art" but it's fun).
Try different media:
Clay
Paint
Weaving
Photography
Good luck!
Formal art education isn't that important at 6 - opportunity is. Get an inexpensive cart from Target or somewhere and FILL it with Art supplies: crayons, markers, pencils, tape, glue scissors, watercolors and lots and lots of paper of all kinds, colors and sizes. Never run out or limit the paper (just be sure they recycle). I buy 2 packs of 500 sheet printer paper all the time - one for the printer and one for the kids. Then just see what your kids do with it - bet you will be amazed!
All children just need materials & a place to work where they can make a mess, time every day when they can do art, and encouragement that their art is wonderful. (Don't forget to include the little ones - just strip them down and take them outside for the messy stuff.) At 6 your son is working on hand-eye coordination and just moving from symbolic drawing to drawing what he sees. When you take the kids to the zoo let him take along a sketchbook and encourage him to draw what he sees. Always find something unusual & positive to comment on with every drawing and never label his work - good, bad or any other judgement. All artists are to some extent self taught, they just need practice and encouragement to find that artists eye within themselves.
From K., an art teacher.
There are generally 5 areas of art discovery that you can try with your kids...
-drawing (includes scribbles, crayons, colored pencils, sidewalk chalk, with a stick in sand)
-painting (watercolor, acrylic, rainwater, on paper, fabric, sidewalk)
-paper & other fibers(collage, tissue paper art, cardmaking, bookmaking, weaving, stamps/envelopes)
-printing (rubber stamps, potato prints, hand/footprint art, rubbings, photography, woodblocking, etching)
-sculpting (clay, pipecleaners, styrofoam, soap cutting)
I try to focus more on discovery rather than technique.
At their age, getting them interested is much more important that their learning how-to...that will come later, and in their own time. The more media you can experiment with the better, and try to refrain from correcting them with right/wrong decisions on your part. Allow them plenty of time and materials and less instruction. If they get frustrated, just stop but leave the art materials in sight to encourage their own spontaneous stuff. Kids can make almost anything out of anything...if they are given the chance! Use recycled stuff around the house as much as possible (cereal boxes, plastic bags, tissue boxes, toilet/paper towel rolls, old magazines, newpapers, egg cartons, yogurt cups, coffe filters, etc) art does not need to exhaust your pocketbook. Hope this helps...and remember the most important thing -
Have Fun with your kids!
P.S. also, try to give them a variety of blank paper to experiment with vs. color books where they are forced to "stay in the lines". Your children probably get enough of that in other areas of education. Art is for free expression!
(ok, I'm done) =}
Hello,
My partner and I have a web site called Lagoonies.com We are artist and we do art classes. We charge $65.00 for two hours and we supple everything. We have had 3year olds and up. As an artist the main thing is to have a space and all his "tools" set up for him. You can even have art time kids that are interested will play longer than 30 min or so. We live in Laguna Beach, Ca ###-###-#### Check out our art. It is encouraging to me that as parents you see the potential and want to tap into it. Peace and Understanding, M.
